December 28, 2024 6 min read Garage Door Tacoma Team
Garage door springs are the unsung heroes of your garage door system. These powerful components do the heavy lifting.literally.by counterbalancing the weight of your door so it can be easily opened and closed. When springs fail, your garage door becomes virtually unusable. At Garage Door Tacoma, we handle spring replacement calls daily and want to help you understand this critical component of your garage door system.
There are two main types of springs used in residential garage doors, each with its own characteristics and applications.
Torsion springs are mounted horizontally above the garage door opening. They use torque (twisting force) to lift the door. Most modern garage doors use torsion springs because they provide smoother operation, last longer than extension springs, offer more controlled movement, and are generally safer when they break.
Torsion springs are wound tightly and store significant energy. When they break, they typically stay on the shaft rather than flying across the garage.
Extension springs run along the horizontal tracks on either side of the door. They extend and contract as the door moves. These springs are more common in older installations and work well for smaller, lighter doors. They're typically less expensive than torsion springs.
Extension springs should always have safety cables running through them. If a spring breaks, the cable contains the spring and prevents it from becoming a dangerous projectile.
Knowing the warning signs of failing springs can help you address the issue before complete failure. Watch for these indicators.
If your door won't stay open on its own or slowly sags when you release it, the springs may be losing tension and need adjustment or replacement.
A broken torsion spring will have a visible gap where it snapped. Extension springs may appear stretched or have separated coils.
If one side rises faster than the other, one spring may be weaker or broken. This puts extra stress on the remaining spring and the opener.
A breaking spring makes a loud bang that sounds like a gunshot or explosion. If you heard this and your door won't operate, a spring has likely broken.
When you disconnect the opener and manually lift the door, it should feel relatively light. If it's very heavy, the springs aren't doing their job properly.
If your opener strains to lift the door, runs slower than usual, or shuts off before fully opening, weakening springs may be the cause.
We cannot stress this enough: garage door spring replacement is not a DIY project. Here's why professionals should handle this work.
Garage door springs are under immense tension. A standard residential door weighing 150-200 pounds requires springs wound tight enough to counterbalance that weight. Releasing or adjusting this tension incorrectly can cause the spring to release violently.
Proper spring replacement requires specific tools including winding bars, safety equipment, and precision measuring devices. Using improvised tools or incorrect techniques dramatically increases injury risk.
Springs must be properly sized and tensioned for your specific door. Incorrect spring selection or improper tensioning can cause the door to operate poorly, damage the opener, or create safety hazards.
Spring-related injuries can be severe, including broken bones, lacerations, and even fatalities. The few dollars saved by attempting DIY repair are not worth the risk.
When you call Garage Door Tacoma for spring replacement, here's what to expect from our professional service.
Our technician will inspect the entire door system to determine the correct spring size and type, identify any other issues that need attention, and ensure the door and opener are functioning properly.
Using proper tools and techniques, we safely release the tension on the old spring(s) and remove them without risk of injury or damage.
New springs are installed and precisely tensioned to match your door's weight. We test the door balance to ensure smooth, safe operation.
We check the entire door system including cables, rollers, tracks, and opener to ensure everything is in good condition. We'll let you know if any other components need attention.
Before we leave, we test all safety features and verify that your door operates safely and reliably.
Most garage door springs are rated for 10,000 cycles (one cycle = one open and close). For average use of 3-5 cycles per day, springs typically last 7-12 years. However, factors affecting lifespan include frequency of use, climate conditions, maintenance quality, and spring quality.
When one spring breaks, we typically recommend replacing both springs (on two-spring systems). The springs are the same age and have experienced the same wear.if one broke, the other is likely close behind.
While springs will eventually wear out, you can extend their lifespan through regular maintenance including lubrication, visual inspection, and ensuring the door is properly balanced. Avoiding excessive use and making sure the door isn't subjected to unnecessary cycles helps too. Temperature management is important since extreme temperature swings stress springs, so maintaining moderate garage temperatures when possible is beneficial. Finally, professional tune-ups through annual maintenance can catch spring issues before they fail.
When you need garage door spring replacement in Tacoma or the surrounding areas, trust Garage Door Tacoma to get the job done safely and correctly. Our certified technicians have the training, tools, and experience to handle any spring replacement efficiently.
We offer 24/7 emergency service for broken springs because we know you can't wait when your door won't operate. All our work is backed by our lifetime warranty on workmanship, giving you peace of mind that the job is done right.
Contact us at (253) 527-5106 for immediate assistance or to schedule a spring replacement. Don't risk your safety with DIY repairs.let the professionals handle this critical job.